What We Do
Who We Are
Difference is a disability rights organisation fighting for a more equal North East, with less discrimination, more access, inclusion and better perceptions of disabled people. We work at a strategy level, influencing policy and public sector organisations to improve their services. We do this through campaigning, lobbying, researching and training.
We try our best to collectively advocate for disabled people across the North East. We have an active membership where disabled people and their allies can add their voices to our campaigns and work. Our members can get involved in what we do through joining discussion groups, adding their experiences to contribute to our campaigns, volunteering and getting involved with other member activities such as film and book clubs, free training, talks and similar activities.
Living Our Values in Everything We Do...
Promoting Visibility, Voice & Affirming Disabled Identities
- We listen to experiences, affirm their validity, and take action based on them.
- We centre disabled voices in every conversation, and find ways to bring those voices into spaces where disabled people have been excluded.
- We try our best and gain insight and learning from when we get things wrong.
Working for Justice & Fairness, & in Solidarity with Others
- We work collaboratively with our members, allies, and others.
- We are vigilant against social and political changes that may affect disabled lives, using the Social Model as the lens through which to study the world to work out how to make things better.
- We strive to exert our influence in decisions that affect disabled lives.
Being Person-Centred
- We listen to and focus on the person and people in front of us.
- We subscribe to the Social Model of disability – meeting people where they are in the ways they need, working to remove barriers for each other, and recognising all experiences are different – what works for one may not work for another.
- We regularly check in with ourselves and each other – we don’t push to breaking point.
Having Trust, Openness & Authenticity
- We are open and authentic – we strive to be trusted in a community where trusting can feel hard. We also recognise being open doesn’t mean sharing everything – we share what we feel comfortable with and accept this of each other. We understand the impact and potential repercussions of sharing is not equal for everyone.
- We are experts by experience – we campaign with and for disabled people.
- We support development in our own time – some of us ‘get there’ slower and faster – both paces are OK.
Being Challenging & Agitating for Change
- We challenge poor behaviour and bad practice, online and in person. By upholding the Social Model of disability, we show a better way through lived experience, awareness, and training.
- We believe disabled people, holding the space for all disabled experiences, whilst recognising the importance of focusing on the most impacted and least privileged.
- We take up space, we use our voice and influence to represent the groups who can’t get to the table or are not invited.
Some of Our Important Plans
Misssion Statement & Strategic Objectives
Click to download PDF
Climate Statement
Click to download PDF
Carbon Neutral Policy
Click to download PDF
Our Funders
Thank you to our funders, without whom, we would not be able to do our work.
Campaigns
We actively campaign against discrimination and other forms of injustice faced by disabled people. See examples of our campaigns and learn how you can get involved by visiting our campaigns page.
What Else We Do...
Events
We host events that welcome disabled people from across the region to gather and discuss important topics that help fuel our work.
Case Studies
See examples of our work and the impact we make via our case studies.
News & Blog
Learn more about Difference and the work we do with our news and blog articles.
Resources
We’ve turned our knowledge into a bank of resources, free for you to access at the link below. Here, you will find information about disability rights, cultural change, accessibility and more.
